As in have them for our players or trigger them? If the former it's because they're not a legal obligation in England, I don't think, and if we put them in our contracts then we'd be powerless to stop other clubs buying our players. If it's the latter it's because they're usually very expensive.

Why would we want to when they are not mandatory? In effect, we have set release clauses at infinite for each player. This protects us more than setting them to x amount of money.

Release clause doesn't mean that the player goes for the release clause. It just means that if some club pays it and player accepts, the selling club has no power to stop the transfer. For this reason, Real (and Barca after Neymar) puts impossible release clauses on their players.

Players still go for fees which are considerably lower than their release clauses.

Why would we want to when they are not mandatory? In effect, we have set release clauses at infinite for each player. This protects us more than setting them to x amount of money.

Release clause doesn't mean that the player goes for the release clause. It just means that if some club pays it and player accepts, the selling club has no power to stop the transfer. For this reason, Real (and Barca after Neymar) puts impossible release clauses on their players.

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So here we have Barca sniffing around Pogba, he is unsettled not saying he is but for argument sake, he wants to leave. United don't want to sell but don't want to have an unhappy player on board so they have a release clause set at say 180 million. United say to Paul's agent that's the figure if it is activated we won't stand in his way. So Pogba now knows that United are not standing in his way of a move but United don't receive that figure so keep the player. Paul is happy that United have at least given the buying team a chance so he does not sulk and blames Barca for not meeting his realistic figure. Not a Modric or infinite figure but realistic figure.

So here we have Barca sniffing around Pogba, he is unsettled not saying he is but for argument sake, he wants to leave. United don't want to sell but don't want to have an unhappy player on board so they have a release clause set at say 180 million. United say to Paul's agent that's the figure if it is activated we won't stand in his way. So Pogba now knows that United are not standing in his way of a move but United don't receive that figure so keep the player. Paul is happy that United have at least given the buying team a chance so he does not sulk and blames Barca for not meeting his realistic figure. Not a Modric or infinite figure but realistic figure.

Of coarse but we don't want to sell so the release clause which is built in gives a buying team the option to buy a player that does not want to be here. Its pointless keeping an unhappy player no matter how good.

Plus if you have your clause put in at what was a "realistic" figure at the time and then one season later your very good player turns into a world class player you lose him for less than he is now worth.

Release clauses also become negotiating points in Spain. For example, teams say we will give you a pay rise but you have to increase the clause to x. Similarly, a player will sign a new deal sometimes rather than leaving on a free but with a reduced clause so that his club get a fee but he also still gets a move.

So here we have Barca sniffing around Pogba, he is unsettled not saying he is but for argument sake, he wants to leave. United don't want to sell but don't want to have an unhappy player on board so they have a release clause set at say 180 million. United say to Paul's agent that's the figure if it is activated we won't stand in his way. So Pogba now knows that United are not standing in his way of a move but United don't receive that figure so keep the player. Paul is happy that United have at least given the buying team a chance so he does not sulk and blames Barca for not meeting his realistic figure. Not a Modric or infinite figure but realistic figure.

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And what if the market inflates over the course of the contract and £180 mil becomes the cost of a good midfielder rather than world class. We balked at the thought of paying up to £50 million for Martial not so long ago. Now we wouldn't accept less than £100 mil despite some question marks over drive and dedication.

Of coarse but we don't want to sell so the release clause which is built in gives a buying team the option to buy a player that does not want to be here. Its pointless keeping an unhappy player no matter how good.

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But you've said yourself that Barca wouldn't pay the 180 mil because it's too much so it doesn't really matter if it's the clause that's 180 or us asking 180 in the end, now does it?

I mean, imagine we put 100 mil clause into Pogba, a year later Mbappe/Neymar happen and 100 mil clause is laughable money and we're basically getting robbed because somebody activates it, what then?

But you've said yourself that Barca wouldn't pay the 180 mil because it's too much so it doesn't really matter if it's the clause that's 180 or us asking 180 in the end, now does it?

I mean, imagine we put 100 mil clause into Pogba, a year later Mbappe/Neymar happen and 100 mil clause is laughable money and we're basically getting robbed because somebody activates it, what then?

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Why would you buy a 23-year old with room to improve and set his release clause £10m higher than what you've just paid though, that would just be plain stupid. Release clauses do no harm if used effectively, e.g. no one will pay €500m for Umtiti and even if he gets ridiculously overhyped and someone is stupid enough to pay it, you can buy 5 great defenders with the money you've received.

Barça should've recognized they were in trouble since €220m wasn't that high for a player like Neymar. Seems like everyone has learned from it since, I think Asensio's is €700m now so basically a clause doesn't even exist.

So here we have Barca sniffing around Pogba, he is unsettled not saying he is but for argument sake, he wants to leave. United don't want to sell but don't want to have an unhappy player on board so they have a release clause set at say 180 million. United say to Paul's agent that's the figure if it is activated we won't stand in his way. So Pogba now knows that United are not standing in his way of a move but United don't receive that figure so keep the player. Paul is happy that United have at least given the buying team a chance so he does not sulk and blames Barca for not meeting his realistic figure. Not a Modric or infinite figure but realistic figure.

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We can do the same now. Pretend that we have 180m release clause, and start negotiations with the minimum amount of money we are expected to accept be 180m. But on negotiations try to get more.

Maybe but lets say in Paul's case 180 million is more than realistic even in today's madness. And the figures wont be thumb sucked managers will get involved etc.

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Why do it though? If we're willing to sell him for 180m today, we could just say that we'll sell at 180. Then next year we can decide what the number is. Why reduce your own flexibility? It's done at initial contract as part of the negotiation, in the same way as a salary is set. In fact salary v clause v contract length is a common trade-off in Spain.

Why would you buy a 23-year old with room to improve and set his release clause £10m higher than what you've just paid though, that would just be plain stupid. Release clauses do no harm if used effectively, e.g. no one will pay €500m for Umtiti and even if he gets ridiculously overhyped and someone is stupid enough to pay it, you can buy 5 great defenders with the money you've received.

Barça should've recognized they were in trouble since €220m wasn't that high for a player like Neymar. Seems like everyone has learned from it since, I think Asensio's is €700m now so basically a clause doesn't even exist.

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Player's demand to set it to X amount or else he won't sign pretty much is the first thing that springs to my mind.

I think that (Atletic Bilbao) is the one exception. They have that all Basque rule, and more money than they need, whatever fee they get they cannot usually reinvest in players. So they insist that the buying club meet the release clause. And they also do it so that they can tell their fans that they turned down all offers, but that the player abandoned their project.

They can be a weak point when fees get inflated like the current market with CBs. For example imagine if Bailly had come in when we signed him and we put double his fee as his release clause, like £45 million. Imagine he hadnt had injury problems and built on his good first season and become one of the best CBs in the league.

Now we'd be losing him for £45 million while other teams are pricing their CBs at £65-70 million. And it wouldnt be in Bailly's intrerest to sign a new deal with a higher clause unless he got a huge payday. So either way it wouldnt have been good for the club